Fleece Festival at the Prospect Park Zoo

Come to the Fleece Festival at the Prospect Park Zoo on May 17 & 18 from 11 am-4 pm!

Spring is in the air and so it’s time for the Prospect Park Zoo’s sheep to get their annual haircuts. Don’t miss the chance to take a trip to the farm and see our woolly flock go from shaggy to shorn.

Watch in awe as professional sheep shearer Don Kading trims Prospect Park Zoo’s bushiest animal residents. See how this amazing process works first-hand and learn about this age old tradition from the experts. An important part of animal care, shearing keeps sheep cool, clean, and healthy in the hot summer months. It also provides wool for farmers to use and sell, playing a vital role in farming economies.

In addition to this yearly spectacle, guests can take a Domestic Tour with zoo docents and learn all about the special care of these beloved farm animals from zoo vets and keepers. Watch as various spinners demonstrate how wool is transformed into yarn using hand spindles and spinning wheels. Enjoy hands-on activities, crafts, and barnyard games along with great animal demonstrations!

Visitors can also get into the spirit and dance to the bluegrass rhythms of The Other Brothers Family Band. This 5 piece multi-talented rock group covers a diverse blend of musical tastes.

And best of all, you can see many other cool species of animals throughout the rest of the zoo, including red pandas, baby marmosets, otters and baboons. Ring in spring at the Prospect Park Zoo where you can have a fun day at the farm, right in the middle of city!